Computing scale



Jan. 17, 1928. E. G. THOMAS COMPUTING SCALE Filed March 22. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. s. THOMAS COMPUTING SCALE Filed March 22. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan, 17, 1928. 1,656,454

E. s. THOMAS COMPUTING SCALE Filed March 22. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 17, 19.28.

UhZITED dliATES PATENT OFFER.

EDW'AED THCMAS. O1 TOLEDO. OHIO, ASSIGEIOR TO TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, OF

TOLEDO, 03110, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

COMPUTING SCALE.

Application filed March 22, 1920. Serial No. 367,645.

This invention relates to computing scales, and more particularly to scales for determining weights per unit of length or area, usually termed yardage scales and to scales for determining the number of units in a given lot, commonly known as counting scales.

(lne of the objects of my invention is to provide automatic means for determining wei hts per unit of length of cloth, cordage,

iaper, and similar commodities.

Another object is the provision of automatic means for determining the weight per unit of area of fabric or other sheet material.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is also capable of use as an automatic weighing scale for determiningthe total weights of commodities.

Still another object is the provision of mechanism which may be employed as an automatic counting device.

Uther objects and advantageswill be apparent from the followingdescription, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention andin which similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a scale embodying my invention, capable of indicating weights per square yard of pieces of fabric of various lengths and widths;

Figure 2 is a sectional View thereof taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, the commodity-receiver being omitted;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevation on an enlarged scale showing a connection between the automatic load-offsetting mechanism and lever mechanism forming elements of my invention;

Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation thereof, parts being shown in section; v

Figure is a detail elevation of a slide employed in changing the multiplication of the scale;

Figure 6 is a further enlarged fragmeir tary front elevation of a cnart employed in one form of my invention;

1 iv n the line 7-7 of Figure 1;

o a iragmentary plan view show f the frame of the scale and Figure 9 is a front elevation of a simpler form of scale embodying my invention and arranged to indicate weight per square yard of cloth or other similar material of uniform width or .veight per linear yard.

I have shown my invention as embodied in a yardage scale, but it is to be understood that it is also capable of employment in other computing devices and that I contemplate its use wherever applicable.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, the frame of the machine comprises a pair of posts 1 and 2 and a cross piece 3 secured to and connecting the upper ends of said posts. Secured to the post 1 adjacent its upper end is a bracket at upon which is fulcrumed a lever 5 shown in this instance as having arms of equal length. lhe lever 5 is con nected by means of a tension rod 6 to one end of a lever 7 fulcrumed in bearings 8 carried by a rod 9 which depends from the ceiling or other convenient support (not shown). The other end of the lever 7 supports a commodity-receiver 10 which may be shaped according to the use to be made of the scale. The opposite end of the lever 5 lies below the cross piece 8 and carries an elongated pivot 11 which engages a hearing at the lower end of a rod 12 depending from a slide 13 mounted on a beam llwhich is fulcrumed in a bracket secured to the lower side of the cross piece 3. The beam 1% lies throughout its length below the cross piece 3 and constitutes a lever, the arms of which may be varied proportionally to the length and width of the piece of goods being weighed, in a manner to be hereinafter eX- plained.

T he cross piece 3 is centrally slotted, as at- 15, throughout the greater part of its length, and-guide rails 16 are provided on each side of the slot to slidably support a carriage 17, of which a portion 18 projects downwardly through the slot 15. A shaft 19 is journaled in the downwardly-projecting portion 18 of the carriage and at one end is provided with a hand wheel 20, while a pinion 21 is fixed upon its opposite end and meshes with a stationary rack 22 on the lower side of the cross piece 3. When the hand wheel 20 is turned, the pinion 21 will roll along the rack 22 and cause the carriage to slide along the guide rails 16.

Mounted upon the carrif i V the le pr a stuntiall watch-csse-shepedhousing 23 containing 21 frame 2% which pivotully supports a pair of load-oitsetting pendulunis .25. Each ofthe pendulums 25 is provided with a power sector Qtl connected'bi means of flexible metallic ribbons 27 to a lever whichis fulcrunied at 29 within the housing the pend until the-loud on he scale iscounterbulenccal. A c pet shCc-k cbsor ic. connected to ver :28 serves to damp the movement of the connected parts.

The housinghas a hich dial is risibh mounted within the the dial and connected A hand 36 s r to swing over hr means ot suitsble gear ng (not shown) to the load tine iilCilullSlll to huve'in renicnt o Lr the dial proportional to the movement ot said n echenisin in offsetting a load.

lhe type of automatic loud-counterbalancend indicating device illustrated, is merely exemplary. Spring or other counterbalancing' devices insycbviously be substi-.

tuted for the pendulum inechunisin and other t pes of dicetinpdevices may be substituted for the hand and dial. Depending from the carriage 17 is an arm 37 he 'ing an arcuate slot 38 which receives u roller 39 mounted upon the slide 32, so that as the carriage is moved along the cross piece 3 the slide will be moved along the beam id. in order that the beam 14 may swing without interference itis necessary that there ben'o binding between the roller 39 and the arm 3?. The side of the slot nearest the fulcrum of the beam is therefore made to conform to an arc of less radius than. the are about which the roller 39 inoves when in its position nearest the fulcrum of the beam 14, while the other side of the slot is made to conform to an arc of greater radius than that about which the roller moves when in its position most distant from the fulcrumof the beam. The. slot is therefore wider atits ends than at its center. Since it is desirable for accurate operation that the connection between the slide 32 and the lever 28 be'pluinb all positions of the, carriage and slide, I have The centering device consists of a pair of juws lO and 4-1 pivotelly mounted adjacent the upper end of the post 2 and engaging a pin 42 on'the beam The jaw 41 is provided with a gear-sector 43 which meshes with a similar sector 4% on the jaw lt) so that us the jaw 41 is moved in either direction about its pivot, an equal and opposite movement is imparted to the aw 40. Moving the jaws together, therefore, always brings the beam l t into position with the roller in thecenter of the slot 38. A retructile spring 45 yieldably holds the jaws in centering posi tion, while uhsndle e6 provid' l to tacili' tate opening the jaws and thereby freeing the beam for weighing operations.

If a piece of goods of any given length he placed upon the pan 10,1noven1eut of the indicator hand will be proportional to the weight of the gooi'l's per l i Thus, if apiece of goods 100 lon .veighin ozs. perlinesrwarlswing he indicet'orhund through 90, 21 piece I we' ing 14 ozs. per linear yard will swing the indicator hand through 180. he dial 1. therefore'be so graduated that the hand will indicate the weights per l near yard directly in ounces or other units oi" weight. 'lilovcment of the lTldlCEltOl" hand will also be proportional to the weight of the goods per'squere yard. Thus, if a piece of goods 100 ydslong and 2% ns. w de weigh,-

ing 7 czs. perv stgusre vard the indicator hand through piece goods 100 dsfilon and Qinsfwide w ighing 1 02s.,

square yard will the indicator hand through 120. It the pieces be 0t un torin width, or if the number of square yards 7 in each piece be lrnown so that the slide 8:2 may be set accordingly, the dial graduated that the h lwil weight of goods per square 7J1" ounces or other units 0t weight.

Bolts of cloth, for use in which this is particularly ioned, not or u lengths or wid The, scale. employedin,conjunction with a nice-sin? :5 inechineso that the length'ot each bolt to he tested is known. Since an own form of measuring mach] e t red process of measuring may be use-l o dimensions or the goodsto be w not illustrated and will not dese ticular type In weighing a. bolt ot' cloth the pull upon the pendulums 1s directly proportional to the.

load on the scale and inve "sely proportional to the lever arm acting upon the link 30- i. e'., the portion of the beam 14 between its fulcrum and the pivot on the slide 32. The load, upon the scale is equal tothe weightof the goods per yard multiplied by the number 7 of yards in the piece. One-halt a'bolt of cloth w ll move the hand through half the are that it is moved by the whole bolt, but if,

when we shorten the piece of cloth we also proportionally shorten the distance between the fulcrunror" the beam 14 and the slide 32, the hand will move through the same arc as that through which it was before moved by the entire bolt. This arc is in either case proportional to the weight per yard of the goods. In other words, the are or" movement of the indicator hand is proportional to the weight per yard multiplied by the number of yards divided by the distance from the fulcrum of the beam l t to the pivot 01? the slide 32. Since, the length of the piece is known, variation in the number of yards may be compensated for by moving the slide 82. The only uncompensated variable, therefore, is the weight per yard, which is directly indicated on the dial.

The parts of the scale are, in the illus trated example, so proportioned that bolts varying in length from to 100 yds. may be tested. The 100 yd. graduation is placed near the free end of too beam let; the yd. graduation is placed midway between the fulcrum and the 100 yd. graduation; the T5 yd. graduation midway between the 50 and 100 yd. graduationaetc.

lVhen it is desired to determine the weights per unit of area'for example, per square yardof pieces of goods of varying widths, another factor enters into the prob lem. The widths, like the lengths, are ascertained by a'measurement and variations in width are compensated for by varying a lever arm upon which the weight actsviz., the distance between the fulcrum of the beam fl-l and the pivot-on the slide 13. Tl the piece being tested is 36ins. wide, the weight per linear yard and the weight per square yard will be the same. The position in which the slide 13 should remain when the scale is being used to determine the weight per unit of length is therefore marked with a. graduation numbered 36. If the width of the piece be reduced one-half, the downward pull upon the rod 12 will be reduced one-- half, so the slide 13 should be moved to double the distance from the fulcrum of the beam 14:, thereby doubling the leverage upon which the rod acts. This position of the slide is marked with a graduation numbered 18. The indicator hand 36 will then point to the same value in indicating the weight per square yard of a piece of goods 18 ins. wide as in indicating the weight per square yard-of a piece of the same goods 36 ins. wide. The 2% in. graduation is midway between the 36 in. and 18 in. graduations. The 12 in. graduation is three times as far from the fulcrum as the 36 in. graduation.

As above stated, the rod 12 which connects the lever 5 and the slide 13 is connected. at its lower end with an elongated pivot 11 in one end of the lever 5. By slightly raising this end of the lever 5 the pivot is disengaged from the hearing at the end of the rod, so that the rod hangs freely from the slide 18. If the slide be moved to any perpendicular position and the pivot lowered into engagement with the bearing at the end of the rod 12, the connection between the lever 5 and beam 1% will not be out of plumb.

In order to facilitate lifting the pivot 1 from its bearing, a shaft 50 having an arm 51 fixed to one end thereof and a handle liner to its other end is journaled in the bracket i, and a link 53 depends from the free end of the arm 51 and passes loosely through a comparatively large opening in the lever A knob 54 is fixed upon the lower end of: the link at some distance below the lever. During weighing operations the lever 5 is outof contact with the link and the knob 5%, but when the shalt 50 is rotated, the knob engages the lower side of the lever 5 and lifts the pivot 11 from its bearing. A stop serves to limit the movementot the litt'ng device.

The scale dial as illustrated has two sets of" graduations, upon one of which the weight per unit of length or area may be indicated, above explained, and upon the other of which the total weight of the commodity nay be indicated. The side of the beam 1% is provided adjacent the lower edge with a series of graduations spaced at distances from the fulcrum proportional to the distance of the width graduations and are marked with corresponding numerals. When it is desired .-to ascertain the total weight of a commodity, the slide 32 is moved to the graduation at the lower edge of the beam which has a number correspom'ling to the number of the width graduation at which the slide 13 stands. The total weightgraduations on the chart. are so spaced that when the slide 13 is moved to a graduation at the lower edge of the beam corresponding to the width? graduation atwhich the slide 13 is set, the total weight will be correctly indicated on the dial. lVith the slides in these positions the scale may be used for ordinary weighing. A. stop 56 prevents movement of the carriage beyond the 100 yd. graduation. The beam 14 is extended beyond its fulcrum to support a sealing weight 5? for balancing the lever mechanism.

The form shown in Figure 9 is similar to that above described except in that the com modity-receiver 10 is attached directly to the beam 14*, and the levers 5 and 7 and their appurtenances omi ted. The housing and the load-offsetting and indicating mechanism contained therein are identical with the corresponding parts of the form first described, are the carriage and other parts supportedthereby. The scale is used in the same manner for determining total weights Jill and weights per linear unit, but only one slide is providedfor changing theleverag'e, softhat the scale is not adapted for indicatmg weightper square yard of pieces 01 varying Widths. If. however, the scale is to "be used in Weighing rabric of uniform Width,

regardless of What the Width is, the dial may be graduated to show the weight per square yard. 'By suspending the commodity-receiver 10 from slide instead of iroin a fixedpirot the scale may be mad to talze care of variations in \victh in the manner above explained. V

Tlie machine may be used for counting with slightly diilerent construction and markings, substanf as embodied in my companion applicati filed July 30,1920, Ser. No. 400,015.

Whileit will 1 e apparent that the illustrated embodiments of my invention herein disclosed are, Well calculated to adequately .f-ulfillthe objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that the intention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims. Havme described my invention. I claim:

. O 7 u 1. In a computing device, in combination,

a commodity-receiver, lever mechanism conmechanism according to a plurality of i nected to said commodity-receiver, means for L varying the multiplication of aframe, a lever fulcrumed thereon, a carriage mounted on said frame, load-offsetting mechanism carried by said carriage, means connecting said'load-oftsetting mechanism to a point on said lever, and means for moving said carriage along said frame and said point connection along lever.

, t. In a computing device, in combination, a frame, a lever tnlcrumed'thereon, a carriage mounted on said frame, automatic load-o'li settin mechanism carried by said carriage, means connecting said load-offsetting mechanism to a point on said lever, and

means for simultaneously moving said carriage along said frame and said point of connection said lever.

5. In a computing device, in combination, a frame, a lever tulcrumed thereon, a carriage mounted on said frame, load-offsetting mechanism supported by said carriage, a slide on said lever, connections between said slide and said load-offsetting mechanism, and means to move said slide along said lever as said carriage: ismoved on said frame.

6'. In a computing device, in combination, frame, a lever tulcrumed thereon, acarriage mounted on said frame, load-'oiisett-ing mechanism supported by said carriage, a slide on said lever, connections between said slide and said load-ofisetting mechanism, and a member connected to said carriage and engaging a portion of said slide to move said slide along said lever as said carriage is moved on said frames.

7. In a computing device, in combination, a frame, riap'e mounted on said frame, load-offsetting niechan in supported by said carriage, a slide on said lever. connections from sa id slide to said load-offset 'ing mechanism, a member connected to said carriage and having a slot, and projection on said slide extending into said slot. 7

In a commuting: device, in combination,

e, lever to -umedthereon, a carmounted on Sillfl tra -me, load-offsetting nanism supported by said carriage, a slide on id lever, connections from said slide to it member ccnnccted (0 said carriage and having a slot with a contracted portion, and a -ection on said slide extending into said t and'substantially fitting said contracted tion. a I

In a computing device, in combination, a if a lerertulcrumed thereon, a car- .ountcd on said frame, load-oilsetting ianism supported by said carriage, a slid on said lever, connections from said sl to said loadoffsetting mechanism, a member connected to said carriage andhavload-oti'setting mechanism,

lever fulcrumed thereon, a caring a slot with a contracted portion, a proje 'tion on said slide extending into said slot and substantially fitting said contracted por tion, and means for positioning said lever" with said'projection in. the contractedportion of said slot.

10. In a computing device, in combination, a frame, a lever tulcrumed thereon, a carriage mounted on said frame, load-oifsetting mechanism supported by said carriage, a slide on said lever, connections from said slide to said load-offsetting mechanism, a

member connected to said carriage and having a slot with a contracted portion, projection on said slide extending" into 'd slot and substantially fitting said cont tion, means-tor positioning said said projection in the contracted said slot, and means for releasing positionin means to permit said lever to move in either direction.

portion 02 l porlever with said levere- 11. A lever-positioning device comprising,

in combination, a pair of pivoted members adapted to engage a lever, gearing: connecting said members for opposite movement, and resilient means urging said members toivard each other. I I l V 1:2. In a computing device, combination,

messes a lever, automatic load-ollsetti; mechanism connected lever righ angles to t necting said levers, able longitudinally and transversely of the other.

i i. In a device of the c described, in combination, le 'er having an elongated pivot, a second lever exten 'ng parallel to said pivot, a connection shirtable along the said second lever and along said pivot, auto matic load-offse"nga to the said second lever ing the point of comic ti ollsetting mechanism and 15. In a device the I combination, a lever, a ond lever extending at first said lever pivot fixed there a bear I I said pivot, a connection between said hi ing and said slide, a second slide on s id first lever, and load-oil's connected to said second slide.

16. In a device oi the class'des bed, in combination, a lever, an elongated pivot d lever, abearing supper-tin li ed to said pivot, means for lilting said pivot from said bearing, including a link having a lost motion connection Yv h said lever, a second lever, a connection from said bearing to said second lever, and means for shifting said connection along said second lever and for shifting said bearing lon itudinally of said pivot.

17. In a computing device, in combination, a lever having a fulcrum, automatic loadotlsetting mechanism connected to said lever, load-applying mechanism connected to said lever, and means for shifting the points of connection with said lever 01 said automatic load-ofisetting mechanism and said load-applying mechanism.

18. In a computing device, in combination, a frame, a lever having a fulcrum thereon, a slide on said lever movable toward and away from said fulcrum, automatic loadolfsetting mechanism connected to said slide, a second slide on said lever, and load-appying mechanism connected to said second slide.

19. In a computing device, in combination, a frame, a lever tulcrumed thereon, a carriage mounted on said frame, load-ofisetting mechanism carried by said carriage, means connecting said load-ofisett-ing mechanism to a point on said lever, means for moving said carriage along said frame and said point of connection along said lever, load-applying mechanism connected to said lever, and means for shifting the point, oi connection of said load-applying mechanism with said lever.

20. In a computing device, in combination, a frame, a. lever lulcrumed thereon, a carriage mounted on said trame, automatic loadi Zsett-ing mechanism carried by said carriage, means connecting said load-ofisetting mechanism to apoint on said lever, means for simultaneously moving said carriage along said frame and said point of connection along said lever, a second slide on said lever, and a commodity receiver connected to said second slide.

21. In a computing device, in combination, ever mechanism, a commodity-receiver conectet thereto, means for adjusting the leveroi said lever mechanism according to a dimension at a commodity, ant. means connected to said lever mechanism to automatically indie-axe the average Weight of said coimnodity per dimensional unit.

ln a computing device, in combination, lever mechanism, a cominodity-receiver con nected thereto adapted to support a piece of da-ic, means for adjusting the lever mechan sin according to the area oi the piece oi? 'l'abric to be tested, zilltOlDtlliL load-offsetting means connected to said lever mechanism, and an indicating dcv'ce eoi'inected to said automatic load-off it means and graduated to indicate Weight per unit of area.

In a device of the class described, in combination, lever mechan sm, means for changing the multiplication of said lever 1 cc ianism, automatic load-ollsetting mechanism, and indicating mechanism having one set of graduations arranged to indicate the total Weight of a commodity and another set of graduations arranged to indicate the weight per dimensional unit of such commodity.

24-. In device of the class described, in combination, a beam, a commodity-receiver, means adjustably connecting said commodity-receiver to said beam, said beam having a series of graduations for determining points of connection therewith of said com-- modity-receiver, load-otlsetting mechanism, means for adjustablyconnecting said loadoffsetting mechanism to said beam, said beam having a series of graduations for determining points of connection therewith of said load-ofisetting mechanism, the distances from the fulcrum of corresponding graduations in the respective series being in the same ratio.

EDWARD G. THOMAS. 

